February 13, Valentines Day eve. Oh St. Valentine, do you know what you stir in people? It’s the day that everyone rushes out and buys a box of chocolates for their darling and a bunch of roses. Who decided that Valentines day had to be in February when local, farm fresh flowers are but a figment of our imagination? Why couldn’t you be celebrated in April even, but no, February. Are you and that groundhog in cahoots leading us all astray?
Seriously though. Do you know where those very expensive flowers come from at this time of year? Probably not your local grower. They are shipped from South America, Israel, the Netherlands, possibly California. Do you know how those flowers are grown? Are they grown with a multitude of chemicals to give you the perfect bloom? How many days are they harvested before they reach you? Hmmmm. Interesting.
I had my first batch of tulips in time for Valentines Day, and I am so sorry but they went like hotcakes. But….you can always tell your sweetie that the perfect gift would be a subscription to Flowers At Lottarock and you can have fresh, one mile traveled if that, sustainably grown flowers for at least 10 months out of the year.
The good news is. I should have plenty of tulips now until the end of the tulip season in early June. I always cross my fingers saying things like that because it’s farming and there are just some things, actually a lot of things I have no control over.
I figure, again, fingers crossed that I should have about 100 tulips if not more, available for your pleasure on Friday. They are starting to come in fast and furious now, well, for my first year doing this it seems that way. So. Come get your fresh, just harvested, locally grown, chemically free tulips.
This is what the first harvest looked like last week.
Beside the tulips, the ranunculus in the greenhouse are happy to have more space to grow and they will soon be joined with the anemones. The cool crops have been seeded and some have already started to germinate. I checked on the dahlias that are in storage in the basement and they are looking good. The days are getting longer and the plants in the dirty room are taking notice.
For the time being, the flowers will be on offer on at MAIN STREET CHEESE, in Hancock, on Friday mornings from 9-12. Sarah has been gracious to let me use her warmer space than my flower shed that is still put away for winter. If your card has expired, or used up, don’t worry, you can always get a new one. Remember, you can use the card when you want (during flower club days) and it is good for two years.
I look forward to seeing you on Friday morning, at Main St Cheese, 9-12. Wear your grippies for the ice. Until next time. Think tulips….Allie